Top 5 Places To Visit In Tirthan Valley

Elevated over 1600 meters above sea level, Tirthan valley is the perfect mixture of peace and adventure. Situated in the Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh, Tirthan valley is rated as the best off-beat destination near Delhi. The name of this valley derives from the river Tirthan that traverses through it. It is home to UNESCO world heritage site, Great Himalayan National Park. While the Himachal is famous for hill stations like Manali, Kasol and Shimla, Tirthan valley is less explored and less commercialized.

Nestled amidst the lush greenery, cascading waterfalls, beautiful villages, high mountain peaks, peaceful lakes and adventurous trekking trails, Tirthan valley attracts backpackers from all around.

Best Time To Visit Tirthan Valley

Tirthan valley is blessed with pleasant weather throughout the year. However, summer (March to June) is the best time to visit when the weather becomes pleasant to enjoy activities like hiking, trekking, camping, fishing and wildlife watching. This is the time when you can the rich biodiversity of Great Himalayan National Park at low altitude as during the month of June and July lots of animals start migrating from high to low altitude.

For snow lovers, winter is the best season to visit when the temperature drops to 0 deg Celsius. During the winter season, Tirthan receives heavy snowfall. From December to February this place turns into the winter wonderland when the entire landscape gets covered into the white thick layer of snow.

Top 5 Places to visit in Tirthan Valley:

1. Serolskar Lake

Situated at the height of 3100 meters above sea level, Serolskar lake is a beautiful lake surrounded by a thick forest of oak and cedar trees. There is a small temple of Buddha Nagini on one side of the lake. Therefore, this lake has religious significance among locals. Locals often come here to worship and offer parshad to the deity.

There you can easily spend hours in peaceful surroundings and verdant landscapes. This lake is easily accessible via trek from Jalori pass and Shoja. To reach up there you need to take a 6 KM trek from Jalori pass that will take around 2 to 3 hours. It is an easy to moderate trek.

2. Jalori Pass

Jalori pass is a wonderful place to visit while you’re in Tirthan Valley. Nestled amidst the mighty peaks of the Himalayas, Jalori pass is situated at the height of 3223 meters above sea level. For bikers and trekking lovers, this place is heaven. Regardless situated at such high elevation this place is easily accessible by people of all ages. At the top, you’ll find some restaurants and shops where you can have lunch and refreshments. Also, there is a temple dedicated to the Goddess Kali known as Jalori mata. In summer, there you can spot some wild seasonal flowers as well. Jalori is a motorable pass so you can easily reach there by your vehicle or public transports.

3. Jibhi Village

Jibhi is a scenic hamlet surrounded by dense forest and majestic Himalayan Peaks. This village is famous for its enchanting views, apple orchards, dense forest, unique flora & fauna, Himalayan trout fish and ancient structured homes. Angling in the Tirthan river is one of the best things you can do in Jibhi. Sitting on the banks while soaking the peace and admiring the view of snow-clad mountains will be an experience for a lifetime. There are many virgin trekking and hiking trails around the town that allows you to go into the deep of the forest.

Due to its proximity to the Great Himalayan National Park and Jalori pass, Jibhi is the perfect place to stay.

4. Great Himalayan National Park

The Great Himalayan National Park is a UNESCO world heritage site and also part of the Himalayan biodiversity hotspot. Spread over 90,540 hectares, GHNP is filled up with various trekking trails, upper mountain glacial, rich varieties of flora & fauna, and snow meltwater source of various rivers including Tirthan river and Parvati river. There you can spot over 31 species of mammals and 181 species of birds that including 50 species of migratory birds. Snow leopards, blue sheep, goral, wild buffalo, Himalayan brown bear, and musk deer are some of the exotic species you can spot in this park. For adventure seekers, there are many trekking trails like Neuli-Sainj, Sainj Tirthan Valley, Gushaini Shilt hut, Siund Pashi villages and Nala Parvati river. You can also stay inside the park as there are around 14 guest houses inside the park.

5. Gushaini Village

Located 10 KM before the entrance of the Great Himalayan National Park, Gushaini is famous for its raw natural beauty, trekking trails, camping, river crossing, rappelling, hiking, bird watching and trout fishing. There is also option of doing nothing, just sit & admire the surroundings. For accommodation, there are lots of homestays and hotels. Due to the proximity of GHNP, various tourists choose to stay in Gushaini.

The most common way to reach up there is Delhi - Manali route. Gushaini is located around 31KM from Aut that is located on the way of Delhi to Manali.

How to reach Tirthan Valley

By Road - Chandigarh (246 KM) and Delhi (498 KM) is considered as the base point for the road journey to Tirthan Valley. To reach up there you need to take Delhi - Manali route and turn off at Aut which is 30 KM from Tirthan Valley. You can easily get government or private buses from Delhi ISBT and Chandigarh bus stand.

By Train - Train is the most convenient and affordable way to reach Tirthan Valley. Joginder Nagar Railway station is located just 137 KM from the Tirthan Valley. You can easily get a train from the nearest major cities to the Joginder Nagar.

By Flight - Bhuntar has the nearest airport to Tirthan Valley that is just 52 KM away. After reaching there you can easily get a bus, taxi or private cab to reach the place.

Tirthan valley is a perfect place to escape from the hustle of metro life and spend a peaceful outing in the lap of nature. From wonderful surroundings to adventurous activities, Tirthan Valley has a lot to offers. So here is the complete guide to plan a perfect trip to Tirthan valley. Now pack your bags and head up to this natural wonder. Peace out.